Thank you, Oh 4-Day Wonder.
Let's see if I have this right. On the FR forum the time you have been registered to post adds to the weight of your opinion? So, according to you if a person of many years experience within the Party and a of Conservative credentials that you would approve of, if you were aware of them, joins the forum under the name Joe Blow, what he has to say is not credible or worthy of discussion by virtue of the fact he only joined a few days ago?
Excuse me, but are you aware of how totally incomprehensible and mind bogglingly (if there is such a word)clueless this makes you look?
As I mentioned in another post, I have been a visitor to FR for many years and as is my habit I prefer to observe before I make the decision to join. I have noticed this forum has markedly changed over the past 18 months or so and the change is not for the good, IMO. The level of discussion has gone from informed give and take (with a few but not many exceptions) to a close minded sort in which the people who consider themselves "real conservatives" have basically shut the door on anyone who doesn't support their positions 100%.
I have seen members booted because they supported John McCain rather then allow either of the 2 liberals to win in Nov. This attempt to stifle opinion does the forum no good whatsoever and actually makes it look like some of the far left forums which similarly prohibit truly free expression. Allowing someone to voice their support for a candidate not your own choice does not in any way hurt your candidates chances of winning nor does the forum booting the individual increase the chances of what you consider the "real" Conservative of winning.
The Democrats are famous for allowing no dissent within the Party and they do this because they KNOW how weak their positions are and how easily they can be shot down when exposed to probing questions. It appears this is what has happened on this forum. If that is the way Robinson wants it then that's fine since it is his forum and he can make his own rules. However I think it not unreasonable to have a message on the home page stating what will be tolerated and what will not. There is a message of this kind presently on the registration page but it does not mention anything about speaking out for a candidate who is a Republican but just not Republican enough for many here.
This forum has gone and will continue to go from what I consider to be the best Conservative forum on the web to merely one of many who demand strict adherence to an unmentioned set of rules, the enforcement of which are left up to a few mods whose decision to boot a member may be determined by the morning mood they are in.
I liken the election to a war. I would love to have Patton as my commanding general but if I simply could not I would take someone of somewhat lesser caliber rather then toss in the towel and concede defeat to an enemy. In this case an enemy who could very well damage the Nation beyond repair, at least for the next many years.